JACKSON COUNTY took one on the chin Monday in an 11-2 loss to North Oconee with some unsteady glove work leading to the Panthers’ demise.
The team committed 10 errors in a game Jackson County (7-12, 7-9) needed to win in order to stay a game ahead of Jefferson for the fourth-place spot in Region 8-AA. The loss moved the Panthers into a tie for fourth.
“We don’t deserve to win when you play defense like that,” coach Tommy Fountain said. “Our players played like they were very uptight. It’s the first time any of our guys have been in a situation with so much on the line late in the season. Hopefully, they got it out of their system.”
Jackson County’s offensive highlights came from Trey Sorrells, who provided the Panthers’ first run by leading off the second with a solo homerun, and Chase Dunlap, who went 2-for-2 with a double. Tony Holton also had a double.
Jackson County beat North Oconee 8-6 in the previous meeting between the two teams.
The Panthers now find themselves in another dip in what’s been an up-and-down season thus far. Jackson County got back into the subregion win column last Monday with a 17-2 drubbing of Oglethorpe County but have lost two straight since then.
